Colts release Marvin Harrison

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - In a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Colts owner Jim Irsay announced the team will release Marvin Harrison. The wide receiver did not attend the announcement.

Irsay said he had a great conversation with Harrison on Tuesday wherein they reflected on the veteran wide receiver's 13-year career with the team. But they were evidently not able to reach any sort of contract agreement.

"We'll look forward to the day when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame and into the Ring of Honor in our stadium,"  said Irsay.

Colts President Bill Polian echoed Irsay's thoughts that Harrison's departure was bittersweet.

"It's a sad day because you never want to see a player of Marvin's stature leave," said Polian.

Harrison has been one of the Colts' most identifiable players since their move to Indianapolis. He ranks No. 2 in the NFL in career receptions (1,102) and holds all of the franchise's major career and season receiving records.

He is also 36 years old, coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career - he missed all but five games in 2007.

Next year's cap is expected to be $123 million.

Since being drafted by the Colts in 1996, Harrison has been a model of consistency.

He's made eight Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl ring. His 14,550 yards rank fourth on the NFL's career list and he's No. 5 with 128 TD catches. Harrison and Peyton Manning also teamed to produce the most proficient passing tandem in league history.

But Manning has increasingly thrown more passes to Reggie Wayne, who has made the last three Pro Bowls, while Anthony Gonzalez, Indy's first-round draft pick in 2007, has made a push for more playing time.

Polian and coach Jim Caldwell had repeatedly said they do not believe Harrison's skills are deteriorating.

"What I saw is a guy who is as quick as he's been, with the same hands and he has the ability he's always had," Caldwell said Thursday.

Harrison isn't the only veteran the Colts could lose this week.

Three-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday will become an unrestricted free agent Friday if the Colts cannot work out a deal before then.

Saturday has started 138 games in nine seasons and is responsible for making blocking calls along the line.

Those two, along with Manning, are the longest-tenured players on the Colts roster, and Polian would like to get deals done with both even though it seems increasingly unlikely in Harrison's case.

Saturday's agent, Ralph Cindrich said Sunday night, that Saturday is preparing to test free agency although Polian has made an offer to the center.

"We've not made any decisions yet, we're still talking and we've made an offer," Polian said. "He's mulling that over, and we'll see where that goes."

The problem for Indianapolis is salary cap space.

On Thursday, the Colts signed cornerback Kelvin Hayden to a new five-year, $43 million deal, the team's latest jackpot winner. Since 2004, Manning, Harrison, Wayne, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Ryan Diem, Bob Sanders, Dallas Clark and Ryan Lilja have all signed contracts worth at least $19 million.

Polian does not believe those deals have put Indy in the money pinch; the new salary cap rules have.